Flying Cars Coming Soon...hopefully Thailand

[JimsKnight]

The Dutch have also been in the race to develop a 'flying car' called the 'Autocopter'.

This was widely publized in the tabloids a few years ago, flying cars are old news its bringing them into the mainstream thats the tricky bit.

The Autocopter is a cross between a car and helicopter.

For a start a helicopter license is required to purchase it (but you need your private pilot license first!) and the price is a very reasonable £30,000 (according to the tabloids.)

According to the developers the autocopter can go at 125 mph airbourne. Seat 2 and do about 30 mpg. On the ground it functions like a normal car with the rotors stored in roof paneling.

The prototypes been done but getting the rotors to auto deploy and fold away has been holding up development.

Remains to be seen if it will take-off (forgive the pun!).

Heres what the times have said about it..

/A THREE-WHEELED car with rotating helicopter blades which has a flying speed of 110mph and a ceiling of 2,000ft has been developed in the Netherlands. Of all the automobiles one could turn into a flying car, they have chosen the Reliant Robin. It’s bad enough having one break down and grind to a halt in front of you in a narrow one-way street when you’re in a hurry. The idea that the air above your head might be full of these unstable little bangers even as you are pottering along minding your own business is too terrifying to contemplate. None of us will be safe.

The Autocopter will become available to the public in 2006. By early 2007 I will be living entirely under ground./

www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,482-512630,00.html

[greenwanderer108]

dead link...man atleast not to the car copter you mentioned.

All that said, doesn't sound as good or efficient as moller's design (which has been designed evolving for half a century). Any pictures?

[Crossy]

If you want Thailand to really get ahead of the curve then maybe they should start investing in the space elevator.  They could really get in on the ground floor and even the sky is not the limit!!!

Call me an idiot..but, what is this space elevator you speak of? Did I miss something. Are you for real. The only thing that comes to mind is Captian Kirk saying 'beam me up scottie'

"You are an idiot" (you did say.......).

"Space Elevator" is one of those barmy ideas to come out of NASA. Imagine a satellite in geostationary orbit with a string all the way to the ground. Now put a climber on the string, climb up the string into orbit, easy eh?? A few materials problems at present.

More information here:- http://www.spaceelevator.com/

Greenwanderer -- the flying Reliant robin is in the last paragraph of the Times article, scroll down, a lot.

Edited June 6, 2005 by Crossy

[chownah]

"Space Elevator" is one of those barmy ideas.........."........" More information here:- http://www.spaceelevator.com/

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah!! Barmy idea!!! Like Dick Tracy's two way wrist radio! If you are old enough and were into comics you might remember Dick Tracy. He had a two way radio he wore on his wrist like a watch. He used it to communicate with his co-workers in the business of crime fighting. At the time it was considered to be totally science fiction...one of those things that were completely impossible and beyond the laws of physics...........well..........guess what..........now you can get a cell phone as small as his radio and it will not only do everything his would do but it gives you access to the world wide web, movies, games, news, chat , email, p0rn, and much much more.............Yeah!! Barmy idea!!!....like the space elevator.....but flying cars....now that's not Barmy!!!!...just think about how practical it is. Those people who can't park a car without hitting another car or the curb....well......now they get to LAND their car and they won't be able to do it without hitting some other car or the buildings or trees......great idea... After drinking a few dozen beers I'll just get in my..........hahahahahhahahaha

Edited June 6, 2005 by chownah

[greenwanderer108]

the dutch PALV almost reminds me of a Tuk Tuk

While the Skycar resembles a batmobile

We need more design selection before any of them are marketable. On the comparison note...

The fuel economics for the PALV only states its land performance (60 mph = 70 mpg) while the skycar gets 20+ mpg in the air. Anyway the PALV seems quite small...can u fit a second passenger in that? The M400 can fit four passengers (M600 will fit 6)

M400 Skycar specs:

Passengers: 4

Top speed @ 25,000 ft: 350 mph

Cruise speed @ 25,000 ft (80% Max Range): 315 mph

Cruise speed @ 25,000 ft (Max Range): 205 mph

Cruise speed @ Sea Level (Max Range): 140 mph

Maximum rate of climb: 5100 fpm

Maximum range: 750 miles

Net payload: 750 lbs

Fuel consumption: approx. 20 mpg

Operational ceiling: 32,000 ft

Gross weight: 2400 lbs

Installed engine power: 865 hp

Power boost (emergency): 33%

Dimensions (LxWxH): 21.5' x 8.5' x 7.5'

Takeoff and landing area: 35 ft dia

Noise level at 500 ft: 65 dba (Goal)

Vertical takeoff and landing: yes

Uses automotive gas: yes

Emergency parachutes: yes

PALV specs

PALV specs: Performance on land

Top speed: >125 mph

0 – 60 mph: < 5 sec

Max tilting angle: 30°

Range: 375 miles

Performance in the air

Max airspeed: 120 mph

Min airspeed: 18 mph

Take off distance: 165 ft

Min landing distance: 16 ft

Range: 340 miles

Vital stats

Engine power output: 213 hp

Weight: 1200 LBS

Length: 13.12 ft

Width: 3.94 ft

Height: 5.25 ft

Not to mention, the PALV needs atleast 50 meters distance for take off range and 5 meters landing distance. It would be a disaster taking off/landing on any traffic packed street/road not to mention the inconvenience of it's helicopter rotor.

Where as the Skycar can instantly vertically takeoff and land anywhere--even something airplanes can't do.

In comparison, I think the Skycar has more advantages and is more marketable...(the US Military has already ordered several) needs more design variety.

[Crossy]

Now I remember, the road going (only) version of the PALV was on the UK motoring show Top Gear last year (or so), the presenters all had a whale of a time with it, enormous fun

The flying version appears to be an autogyro (it has no tail rotor) expaining why it needs a take off run and can't land vertically (quite), autogyros do not power the rotor, it is turned merely by the forward motion through the air.

Have they actually built a working one??

One advantage over the Skycar is that it is actually road-going rather than being a pure aircraft. Going to be a lot cheaper too.

More detail here:-

http://www.sparkdesign.nl/actueel/20041013...41013press.html

Edited June 6, 2005 by Crossy

[chownah]

Crossy, I love it when you post on this topic...the ox-cart avatar comments on the autogyro solution to the future's transportation problems!

[Darknight]

what about this one ?

http://www.millenniumjet.com/

Personally i wouldn't fly in any thai-made plane. did you ever go and have a look at their ultralights ?

Edited June 6, 2005 by Darknight

[PeaceBlondie]

The current prices run between half a million and a million US DOLLARS. I've seen a Ferrari Testarossa here (or a good replica of one) in two years, but I saw them in Houston every week (okay, I lived near the dealership).

What about pilot's license? Maintenance? Storage?

No, the Prime Minister or his Cabinet have already decreed the future of transportation in Thailand: the microcar, into which Sansaporn and Patsakorn cannot fit.

[Heng]

I found 18 threads that mention the Segway.

None started by the Segway Guy.

Nowhere in my post does it say the thread was started by the segway guy- but seeing as you have brought it up, here is the particular thread I refer to:

The Segway

In 5 pages you posted 16 times, and the thread was eventually closed due to breaching forum spam rules. Fair enough?

I'd probably be spamming (and wound up pretty tight) too if I was stuck trying to sell convertible BMW's or open top Jeep Wranglers in the LOS. PLEASE buy ONE! We'll give you a free book to hold over your head as a sunshield while you drive.

A guy has a little Segway rental business at the end of Soi Nana and your gonna pop a vessel?

[greenwanderer108]

Call me spammin, jammin, wammin, blogin, fogin, nogin, but in my weeklong researchin bingin daze, I will declare the next task on my "never ending list of things to do aside from chuck the monkey when I get free time" list... :

Make futuristic designs of a flying sea/river/klong going soot-yort-mobile

Edited June 9, 2005 by greenwanderer108

[meadish_sweetball]

The problem is human. We already have lots of flying vehicles. They are surrounded by stricter regulations than ground-based vehicles because most people can't handle the responsibility of driving a normal car.

[Old Croc]

The problem is human. We already have lots of flying vehicles. They are surrounded by stricter regulations than ground-based vehicles because most people can't handle the responsibility of driving a normal car.

There was a flying vehicle pulled over in NSW the other day. The driver was a Chinese student on P plates and was timed doing about 230 kmh. His excuse?

He's never driven in the dark before and was scared and wanted to get home!!

[jackr]

The Skycar manufacturers state that it will do 20-odd miles to the gallon (obviously cruising), but what's the take-off and landing fuel consumption ratio? That's where you'll use your juice. I'd have one if I had a serious bank balance, though, but might be a bit daft if your place of work is only half a mile from your home and you don't fancy using the driving on the ground option.

[JimsKnight]

The problem is human. We already have lots of flying vehicles. They are surrounded by stricter regulations than ground-based vehicles because most people can't handle the responsibility of driving a normal car.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Remember back in the days of Back to the Future when Michael J Fox is flying about in the DeLorean in BTTF and I turned to my Dad and said "Wow Won't it be great when flying cars are made and available!!!" My Dad just looked at me with a look of terror and exclaimed

"Its bad enough with Joyriders who can't drive and crash into things, imagine them in one of those (flying cars) going out of control! It'd not be cars getting crashed into but peoples houses!"

Out to you brothers on this one!

[Flysiam]

Sounds like a fun mode of transport but I would NEVER do it in Thailand... I have seen the grossly sub standard maintenance of flying machines in Thailand - not to mention the grossly archaic Air Traffic Control system here!!! YIKES!

[Flysiam]

Hmmmmm if memory serves me right... There was a flying car in Thailand once... does anyone remember The Man With the Golden Gun (ala James Bond) - filmed in Thailand in 1973 I believe......

[Crossy]

Crossy, I love it when you post on this topic...the ox-cart avatar comments on the autogyro solution to the future's transportation problems!

Yeah, my power source also supplies the bull XXXX for my posts entered after a few Changs